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| 23rd November 2014 |
Drawings by Ralph SmithSome great speedway art from the very talented Ralph Smith. |
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The World Pairs Final 1987 We're up to 1987 in Tracy Holmes' continuing series on the World Pairs Championship. He warns that his finishing order varies from the generally accepted one. |
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"Brilliant stuff, had me in stitches! More please. Seeing all the old names again brought back many wonderful memories, not just of Long Eaton, but the sport in general." "Billy Sanders knew after his last ride (another win) that his fall against the West Germans had cost he and Gary Guglielmi the title, you could see in his reaction. He's won his heat yet hung his head on the handlebars knowing that all England needed was 4 points against the Kiwis. Shame really, Billy deserved to win more than one World Championship (he was part of the Aussie team that won the 1973 World Team Cup). The referee at the meeting, Sam Bass, was a police detective and later a state parliament politician in his home town of Adelaide (also my home town). Bass may have been straight as a dye as a speedway referee (I believe his son or brother actually rode solo's at Rowley Park), but for a number of years there were heavy rumours that he was a bent cop...all denied of course and nothing was ever proven." "Update; June 28. Westernapolis. Exeter. Heat 11. SIMMONS, COLLINS, D. Wyer, K. Holden. Semi-Final. COLLINS, SIMMONS, C. Morton. K. Holden. Final. COLLINS, SIMMONS, D. Morton, R. Eide. So going into the World Final was closer than I thought; Simmons 6, Collins 5. And that makes the final score; Collins 11, Simmons 7. " "Only ever 2 announcers at Cleveland park , the legend Bernard Gent & Tony Coupland. A few centre greenery but not a commentator . Don't place the name either." "The End of Wimbledon. News, that AFC Wimbledon have officially submitted a planning application for a new football stadium on the Plough Lane site. The application is for an 11,000 seater stadium which can be extended to 20,000. The proposal also include 600 residential unitsm retail and commercial space, and a leisure club. The football club have carried out extensive public consultation over the summer with positive feedback. If approved by Merton council, it would spell the end for any lingering hopes of speedway returning to Plough Lane. " |
| 16th November 2014 |
DVD Review: National League HeroesA new DVD that features some classic action from the glory days of the National League (1975-1990). |
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The World Pairs Final 1986 Tracy continues his history of the tournament. A new race format was introduced this year. |
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"Is this the venue of the 1960 World Team Cup and the 1967 World Final? Or did they use the Malmo Stadium for those events?" " Ah, Colin Hutchinson on the motocross commentaries: 'the undulating straight' Who else remembers that one, which came up every time?" "Great site, hopefully will be back to see old friends." "Eric & I were old buddies from late 1946 when we started a cycle speedway team in Southall , Middx --- Ascot Aces & later the Southall Hammers . We graduated to REAL speedway. Eric bought a bike ( JAP engine ) which I shared with him just before he went into the army. I decided to buy a bike and we tried out at Aldershot track along with Eric Hockaday. I crashed so many times & removed flesh & bones too often so I quit & left the country! I reconnected with Eric Jolly & Eric Hockaday a little over a year ago & I wished I'd done it sooner." |
| 9th November 2014 |
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Long Eaton v Boston 1973 - Part 2 The concluding part of Ian Gill's surreal look at Boston's visit to Long Eaton in 1973. The action is about to start and events are going to take a bizarre turn. |
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Match Report: Long Eaton v Boston 1973 In case you've read Ian's story and doubt its authenticity, here's the match report from the following day's Nottingham Evening Post. Strangely, no mention of the Sky cameras being present. |
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The World Pairs Final 1985 Tracy Holmes talks us through the 1985 final, when the Brits elected to jettison the defending champions and bring in some fresher faces. |
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"Very good I could tell you the finish but that would spoil the fun!Plenty of sparks in this meeting." "re Cleveland Park don't remember him commentating at Cleveland Park - in fact I don't remember anyone commentating! You had a friend who ran the Fiesta and you went to the speedway once. Am I missing something?" "Gary was my god father. I remember sitting in his shed on his bike in 72/73 as a kid. My dad and Gary practiced and raced in the early days." |
| 2nd November 2014 |
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Long Eaton v Boston 1973 - Part 1 Something rather special this week to help lift the end of season blues. Ian Gill dives into both his memory and imagination in this piece which tells the tale of an incredible meeting from 1973. He imagines how it might have looked through the eyes of the Sky TV cameras. We'll bring you part 2 next week. |
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The World Pairs Final 1984 Chris Morton partnered old friend Peter Collins in the 1984 final in Lonigo. Tracy Holmes talks us through the action is his latest installment of doublespeak. |
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 Friends of Speedway (a non-profit making organisation who are proud to sponsor the British Youth Championship - formerly the Under 15's) are pleased to announce the 55th edition of their magazine the Voice which is packed full of interest and enjoyment. This issue is a big 24 pages, which will keep your interest for hours! In this issue David Telfer gives his inevitable views on speedway in general and the best televised meeting to date; Annette Maybach gives her thoughts on the past season; 'Slider' gives his views on speedway; Tom Newey describes his speedway collection; Charles Mckay reports on Ambulance and Medical cover; Sue Towner reflects on the last season; Roy Delaney says 'just love mouldy old dough'; John Hyam on the Pirates and Midget cars v speedway bikes; John Chaplin on the Second Noel and Geoff Bennett and Editor Stuart Towner reports on the California Reunion and much more too. Available from Friends of Speedway; 117 Church Lane, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2DP. Please send your cheque for £10 made out to the above for four issues of the Voice to Stuart Towner at the above address or ring 0208-397 6599 for more information. |
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"I was a "pusher" then colour marshall at Sunderland in Jack's early days. While his on track image was macho and agressive, back in the pits he was a guy with a great sense of humour and generosity. I remember him riding at Teesside (Middlesborough) appearing wearing a viking style helmet and black cape in the introductions. He insisted on speaking on the mike while he was being introduced and confidently announced that he was "too good for this place", to a chorus of loud booing from the home fans and cheering from us visitors. He went on to score a 12 point maximum. What a character!" "I was in the entertainment business for forty-five years, during which I met Colin Hutchinson, the general manager of the Fiesta Club in Stockton. Colin and I became friends and he told me he commentated at Middlesborough Speedway, hence at his invitation I paid my one and only visit to the stadium. Following his managerial expertise at The Fiesta, Colin moved on become managing director at Carlisle United Football Club. His next move was to take over as MD at Wimbledon Football Club, but his main claim to fame was being offered the position as Managing Director at Chelsea FC under the chairmanship of Ken Bates. It was Colin who first introduced such great Italian players as Vialli and Gianfranco Zola to the Premier League, also Dutch ace Rudd Gullet. There is another motor cycle involvement that involved Colin Hutchinson, he was the announcer and commentator for the televised Sunday afternoon scrambling meetings that became so popular in the sixties. " "Fred was my Granfather on my Dad's side of the family. I never got to meet the man. He did indeed sell Ford cars in the Manchester area. " |